Sweeping device



Oct. 3, 1961 R. J. I INDSTROM 3,002,213

SWEEPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 3,002,213 SWEEPING DEVICE Robert J. Lindstrom, Zephyr Manufacturing Co.,

40G-410 W. 2nd St., Sedalia, Mo. Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 699,258 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-244) This invention relates to cleaning devices such as sponge brooms and the like that are moved over surfaces to remove dust and dirt therefrom and has for itsprincipal object to provide a cleaning device having elastic cellular material supported thereon in the form of sweeping blades.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a cleaning device in the form of a head on a handle with elastic cellular material secured to the head to present a multiple blade sweeping member; to provide such a cleaning device with elastic cellular material such as solidified synthetic resin -foam in blades of tapered form whereby the sweeping edge of each blade is narrower than the portion adjacent the head; to provide such a cleaning device with sweeping edges longer than the head to facilitate cleaning in ditiicult areas; and to provide a cleaning device wherein the head has secured thereto a cleaning element of solidified synthetic resin foam in a multiple diverging blade construction that is economical to manufacture, neat in appearance, light in weight and ecient and long-wearing in use.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG; l is a perspective view of a cleaning device ernbodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cleaning head and element taken on the line 2 2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the cleaning device on the line 3 3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through a modified form of cleaning device wherein the cleaning elements are separate pieces.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a cleaning device embodying the features of the present invention which generally consists of a head 2 having a handle 3 and a cleaning element structure 4. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, the head 2 is an elongated member of suitable material such as wood, synthetic resin or the like preferably having a rounded upper surface 5 and a ilat bottom surface 6 between depending longitudinally extending anges or lips 7 at opposite sides of the head to cooperate with the flat bottom surface 6 to define a longitudinal groove 8 for receiving the cleaning element 4 as later described. The head 2 preferably has spaced sockets 9 and 10 for selectively receiving the handle 3. The socket 10 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the flat bottom face 6 for receiving the handle in a position for use of the cleaning device and moving same in the order of a broom. The socket 9 is arranged at an angle to the bottom face 6 whereby when the handle 3 is secured therein, the cleaning device may be pushed as with a push brush.

'I'he cleaning element 4 is preferably formed of an elastic cellular material such as a solidified synthetic resin foam, for example, polyurethane foam, or other suitable synthetic resin foams having some exibility and preferably of small cell size in the order of M6 of an inch or less in diameter. The cleaning element 4 is formed from a block or blocks of such elastic cellular material and secured to the head in a manner to provide a multiple blade cleaning element. In the form of the invention illustrated 3,002,213 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 ICC 2 in FIGS. l to 3 inclusive, the cleaning element is made from a single block of elastic cellular material and has a at upper surface 11 corresponding in area and size to the bottom face 6 of the head 2 between the lips 7, said upper surface 11-being suitably secured to the bottom surface 6 of the head 2 as by a layer of adhesive 12. The cleaning element 4 has ends 13 which slope downwardly :and outwardly from the ends 14 of the head whereby the length of the bottom surfaces or faces 15 of the cleaning element is greater in length than the head. In the illustrated structure, thefangle between the end surfaces 13 and the bottom faces l5 is in the order of approximately 60 degrees. The side surfaces 16 of the cleaning element slope downwardly and outwardly from the sides of the bottom face 6 with the lips 7 engaging the upper portions of the side faces 16 as illustrated in FIG. 3. 'I'he cleaning element 4 is cut and shaped to ha-ve a plurality of blades 17 which extend longitudinally of the head 2 with the lower ends of the blades in laterally spaced relation whereby the inner surfaces 18 of said blades define an inverted V-shaped groove 19 therebetween. or adjacent surfaces 18 of the blades 17 are at an angle to the outer surfaces 16 of the respective blades whereby the lower ends of the blades are narrower in Width than the upper portion thereof. The bottom surfaces or faces ,15 of the blades 17 are coplanar or substantially in a` single plane to lie yflat on a surface to be cleaned. In the illustrated structure, the cleaning element 4 is formed `from a single block of elastic cellular material and the V-shaped slot 19 has its upper end terminating in spaced relation to the upper face 11 of the cleaning element, and the angular relation of the faces 16 and 18 and narrower width of the lower end portions of the blades provide increased fiexibility of the blades adjacent their lower ends.

In using a cleaning device constructed as described, the handle is grasped and the structure moved by sweeping or pushing motions with the lower portion of the blades in sweeping engagement with a surface to be cleaned, and as it is moved over said surface the leading edges of the blades 17 tend to remove dirt and dust from the surface, and dust escaping the leading blade tends to be removed by the trailing blade. All of the exterior exposed surfaces of the cleaning element have exposed cells and due to the inclined relation of the side and end faces from the head, said faces may be engaged with ledges such as those over windows and the like to sweep same. The edges of the exposed cells at the working portions of the cleaning element act as sweeping edges. It is characteristic of the cellular material that it has an attraction for lint and therefore Will remove same from material being swept, and it will also remove dust Without stirring or raising same into the atmosphere. The cleaning element is nonabrasive `and therefore may be used on all types of surfaces without damaging or marring same, and

due to the cellular structure it has some absorbent characteristics whereby it can be used for some sponging and mopping applications. The inclined side and end surfaces are such that the bottom surface of the blade extends over a greater area than the head and makes it possible to sweep adjacent furniture and the like without the head contacting or marring same.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the head 2 and handle 3 are of the same structure as illustrated in FIGS. l to 3 inclusive. The cleaning element 21 is formed of two blocks of elastic cellular material such as polyurethane foam with the upper surfaces 22 of said blocks parallel to the bottom surfaces 23. The upper surfaces 22 have a combined width corresponding to the width of the lower face 6 of the head 2 whereby the blocks are placed together and secured to the head by suitable adhesive 24, said blocks extending downwardly from said The inner 3 face 6 to dene spaced blades 2S with the outer or remote side surfaces 26 of said blades at an angle to the adjacent or inner side faces 27 whereby the width of the lower portions of the blades is narrower than the Yupper portions.

giving a wedge or tapered shape. Also, the faces are arranged relative to therupper surfaces 22 and bottom Vsurfaces 23 whereby the outer side surfaces 26'of'the blades are inclined downwardly and outwardly from the 'hea'd 2. While only two blades are illustrated, it is to be 'understood that the number may be increased with each ofthe plurality of blades wedge shaped and in diverging relation. The operation of the cleaning device illustrated in FIG. 4 is the same as above described relative to the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms of arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cleaning device for sweeping Vdry surfaces comprising,v an elongate rigid headmember having a handle extending therefrom, said head member having opposed sides and ends and a bottom surface, a cleaning element having an upper face secured to said bottom surface of the head member, said cleaning element being resilient and composed of a block of elastic solidified synthetic resin foam having side and end faces sloping outwardly and downwardly from adjacent sides and ends of the bottom face of the head member, anda bottom Work-engaging surface on said cleaning element with outer edges of said bottom work-engaging surface defining an area greater than the area of the bottom surface of the head member, the bottom surface of the cleaning element forming an acute angle with each of the side and end faces of the cleaning element with the lower edges thereof being outwardly from the respective adjacent sides and ends of the head member, said'bottom surface of the cleaning element being in a single plane for normally engaging a flat surface to be cleaned, and an inverted V-shaped channel extending upwardly into the cleaning element from the bottom surface thereof, said inverted V-shaped channel being equally spaced Ffrom side faces `of the cleaning element and extending lengthwise thereof and cooperating with said side faces to define downwardly diverging flexible blades having inner faces inclined relative to the adjacent side face of the cleaning element to provide a downward taper to said blades with a lesser width at the bottom face surfaces thereof, said sides, ends, inner faces and bottom surface of the cleaning element having exposed cellular cavities with edges thereof being sweeping edges as the blades of the cleaning element are flexed during move-v ment over surfaces being cleaned.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,824 Storrie July 29, 1930 2,163,638 Vaughn .Tune 27, 1939 2,201,079 'Camden May 14, 1940 2,290,217' Trindl et al. `Tuly 21,1942 2,303,759 Pippin Dec. 1, 1942 2,840,843 Vavrinek July 1, 1958 2,915,768 'Hall Dec. 8, 1959 2,975,454 Bernstein Mar. 21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,016 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1935 498,729 Belgium Feb. 15, 1951 633,692 Germany Aug. 4, 1936 681,261 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1952 1,106,965

France July 27, 1955 

